I love this gaming cockpit that stows away in an ottoman, posted to an Australian overclocker’s forum. The builder writes:

Wanted to make it fully adjustable for other people to be able to use, therefore the seat, gearstick and steering wheel all push forward and are locked down with wing nuts and pins.

The dimensions are 1500mm x 500mm x 500mm. I am 180cm so fits me pretty well. I used 18mm MDF to build it.

Only takes me a couple of minutes to set it up to use. I put some timber feet on the box and sanded them real smooth so it glides easy over the carpet. Then take the lid off, put the steering wheel into position and insert the locking pins, plug in the power and USB and away I go.

All in all I am really happy with how it has come up, yeah there would be a few things I would change if I built it again but for a first run it works a treat, plus it doesn’t look too bad in the lounge room. Another plus is that there is plenty of room inside it for storage too.

Gareth Branwyn is a freelancer writer and the former Editorial Director of Maker Media. He is the author or editor of over a dozen books on technology, DIY, and geek culture. He is currently a contributor for Boing Boing and WINK Books. And he has a new best-of writing collection and “lazy man’s memoir,” called Borg Like Me.

Simon

That is a really excellent idea. Good thinking about making it all adjustable too. Personally I’d put the brake and throttle pedals closer together for better heel/toeing but then I’m weird :)

kerowhack

This is truly brilliant: a wife/girlfriend-approved way to geek out. I think many things that are posted here are conceptually wonderful, and from a technical standpoint well executed, but sometimes are not designed with aesthetics or non-tinkerers in mind. Obviously there is nothing wrong with that. Some makers just aren’t concerned with such matters, while for others it may just be a prototype or work-in-progress, or maybe there is an issue with limited funds, time or resources. Tastes vary from person to person, and one man’s trash is another’s treasure etc. (insert your own cliche here). However, I cannot help but have an extra bit of admiration for someone who goes the extra mile and makes something like this which specifically acknowledges that not everyone is really into the PVC and duct tape aesthetic that we pride ourselves on, and that some people just want something that looks pretty normal.

Maybe we should all take a few minutes to think about the Maker widows who put up with the long hours spent in the garage, the side trips to odd places like junkyards or electronic supply houses on vacation, the clutter of a work space in progress, the “only a little one” fires and other accidents, the sometimes trying experiments that interfere with daily life, the “5 more minutes” an hour agos, and the amount of money spent on what some would consider to be useless junk. Anyone who can put up with us, let alone support or even collaborate in our efforts, is a very special person indeed, and the sort of consideration shown here would be the perfect way to say “thank you” to our SOs. Maybe Make could do a feature on Normal Person Approved projects?

jimbo64

That is AWESOME. Kudos

Brad

It’s an automan!

http://www.facebook.com/people/Joseph-Martin/1763809196 Joseph Martin

HOLY AWESOME!!!

http://www.facebook.com/ssgoku129 James Morgan

hey baby, wanna check out my ottomon 5000?

http://www.facebook.com/ssgoku129 James Morgan

hey baby, wanna check out my ottomon 5000?

http://twitter.com/pvused Pacific Vacuum

Shift on the left? Oh Australia. Nuttin. This setup is BOSS. Nice work mate.

http://pulse.yahoo.com/_QCRRFVM3AG7BPSYARR5NJ6YQHM Briana

brilliant!

Seribro

SHUT UP AND TAKE MY MONEY!

Andrew Johnson

That’s awesome and quite unique compared to many other DIY cockpit designs for various types of games out there. Only problem is that G27 H shifter. I personally would move the bottom of the seat slightly up (say almost 7 inches) then equip it to the side of the seat (left personally, right for most) that way you have the shifter off the side and down near your left knee. Makes it like a rally car’s setup. However If your not on a budget ditch the G27’s clutch and get the Thrustmaster one (or use both – one where it is in photo, other below&side of knee. could make one an E-Brake). Also for more diversity (complexity too) I would add a ball socket joint between the legs for a pole then attach a joystick to the top of said pole so you could have a fighter stick, with two wooden inserts (like the wheel) for HOTAS thrust control and have the pedals hooked to the wooden insert by perpendicular railing like a simple metal shelving rail so they could be exchanged with flight pedals and maybe 1 last wooden insert for a yoke if you want. Or another “last” wooden insert for 3-Axis joystick with the X axis locked but able to twist and pitch, having it faced 90 degrees down (pull up on stick to rise) for helicopter throttle.

A more complex and time consuming cockpit but this way you could take the controllers and wooden inserts out you won’t be using for a car simulator then switch easily to a jet, helicopter, cesna (simple aircraft) covering all your simulation needs. Once done place all inside and close, should fit since there is already a lot of empty space.

Hell that makes me want to draw that up now. So that’s what i’ll do lol.